#CFBrank, 2016: 30-21
— -- What is #CFBrank?
#CFBrank is the Twitter hashtag to use if you want to get involved in the discussion or just follow along.
How did we rank the players?
We asked 32 of ESPN's college football writers, editors and analysts to rate players on a scale of 0-10 based on their expected contributions for the 2016 season.
100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1
30. Ethan Pocic
LSU Tigers
Senior | Center
Score: 8.11
The All-SEC center's decision to return for his senior season stabilizes an offensive line that otherwise would have been a major question mark had Pocic opted to turn pro. The versatile Pocic can play every position on the line, but he ranks among the nation's top NFL prospects at his current position.
29. Jalen Hurd
Tennessee Volunteers
Junior | Running Back
Score: 8.21
Probably too underrated for his own good, Hurd rushed for 1,288 yards and 12 touchdowns during a solid sophomore season with the Vols. He was also an early riser for Tennessee, as 480 of his yards came in the first quarter in 2015. In two seasons, Hurd has averaged 4.4 yards per carry in SEC play.
28. Christian Kirk
Texas A&M Aggies
Sophomore | Wide Receiver
Score: 8.22
The writers who cover the SEC think so highly of Kirk that they made him a preseason all-conference player at three different positions: wide receiver, all-purpose performer and return specialist. Kirk set a Texas A&M freshman record with 1,789 all-purpose yards in 2015 (1,009 receiving yards, 341 on punt returns, 385 on kickoffs and 54 rushing).
27. Greg Ward Jr.
Houston Cougars
Senior | Quarterback
Score: 8.31
One of the more electric players in college football last season, Ward joined Clemson's Deshaun Watson as the only two quarterbacks to rush for over 1,000 yards and throw for over 2,000 yards. He also accounted for 38 total touchdowns, including a school-record 21 rushing touchdowns.
26. Josh Rosen
UCLA Bruins
Sophomore | Quarterback
Score: 8.33
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound true sophomore might be the most physically talented quarterback in college football. He already has the NFL salivating over his prospects when he likely becomes available for the 2018 draft. As a true freshman, he passed for 3,668 yards and 23 touchdowns, and expectations are high for him in 2016. He is often tagged a dark-horse Heisman Trophy candidate.
25. Pat Elflein
Ohio State Buckeyes
Senior | Center
Score: 8.34
Just about everybody at Ohio State who was eligible for the draft made the jump, but Elflein's decision to stick around was a huge boost to the program's title chances this season. One of the nation's most physical blockers, he's taking on an expanded role by moving to center after tinkering with the position in practice over the past couple of years.
24. Malik McDowell
Michigan State Spartans
Junior | Defensive Lineman
Score: 8.35
With three other defensive line starters departing, McDowell becomes the main attraction in the trenches for Michigan State. He'll play both defensive end and tackle after making a name for himself on the interior during the past two seasons.
23. Derek Barnett
Tennessee Volunteers
Junior | Defensive End
Score: 8.38
One of the SEC's most feared pass-rushers, Barnett has 20 sacks and 32.5 tackles for loss. Barnett enjoyed 20.5 tackles for loss as a freshman and bounced back from a slow sophomore start to record at least one sack in seven of the Vols' final eight games of the season.
22. Samaje Perine
Oklahoma Sooners
Junior | Running Back
Score: 8.39
Perine has been one of the Big 12's best players since the first time he stepped on campus. In two seasons, he gained 3,062 yards in 26 games, averaging 6.26 yards per carry. Perine combines a physical running style and surprising speed to provide a big-play and short-yardage threat.
21. Adoree' Jackson
USC Trojans
Junior | Defensive Back
Score: 8.40
This two-sport star (he participated in the U.S. Olympic Trials in long jump) has delivered at defensive back, receiver and returner. Jackson is the type of freak athlete who can run to a wall and flip up against it; those explosive skills often electrify in the form of big plays on the football field.
100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1
Voters: Andrea Adelson, Edward Aschoff, Brian Bennett, Kyle Bonagura, David Ching, Heather Dinich, Matt Fortuna, Kevin Gemmell, David Hale, Travis Haney, Brock Huard, Chantel Jennings, Sharon Katz, Sam Khan Jr., David Lombardi, Chris Low, Tom Luginbill, Ivan Maisel, Ryan McGee, Erik McKinney, Ted Miller, Dan Murphy, Max Olson, Greg Ostendorf, Adam Rittenberg, Alex Scarborough, Jared Shanker, Mitch Sherman, Phil Steele, Jake Trotter, Tom VanHaaren, Austin Ward
